Machines for operating on sheets, such for example as a strip-cutting press or a press for corrugating cardboard sheets



p 1958 B. DE KALBERMATTEN 2,850,230

MACHINES FOR OPERATING 0N SHEETS, SUCH FOR EXAMPLE AS A STRIPCUTTINGPRESS OR A PRESS FOR CORRUGATING CARDBOARD SHEETS Filed March 30, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 1 p 1958 B. DE KALBERMATTEN 2,

MACHINES FOR OPERATING ON SHEETS, SUCH FOR EXAMPLE AS A STRIP-CUTTINGPRESS OR A PRESS FOR CORRUGATING CARDBOARD SHEETS Filed March 50, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 2 i Fig.2. F i g5.

i 1' L a p 1958 B. DE KALBERMATTEN 2,850,230

MACHINES FOR OPERATING ON SHEETS, SUCH FOR EXAMPLE AS A STRIP-CUTTINGPRESS OR A PRESS FOR CORRUGATING CARDBOARD SHEETS Filed March 30, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 2, 1958 B. DE KA ERMATTEN 2,850,280

- MACHINES OPERATING SHEE sucn FOR EXAMPLE I AS A PRE 0R TRIP-CUT GPRESS SS F CORRUGATI CARDBOARD SHEETS Filed March 30, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 atent Ofilice 2,850,280 Patented Sept. 2, 1958 MACHINESFOR OPERATING N SHEETS, SUCH FOR EXANHLE AS A STRIP-CUTTING PRESS OR 1?PRESS FOR CORRUGATING CARDBOARD BEETS Bruno de Kalbermatten, Lausanne,Switzerland, assignor to J. Bobst & Son S. A., Prilly, near Lansanne,Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application hiarch 30, 1955,Serial No. 498,021

Claims priority, application Switzerland April 3, 1954 7 Claims. (Cl.271-60) This invention relates to machines for operating on sheets, andmore particularly to printing presses, stripcutting presses or pressesfor corrugating cardboard sheets wherein sheets are carried sequentiallyby gripper bars moved intermittently by endless chains or the like.

In such machines it is diflicult to obtain both high speed and perfectregistration of sheets, not only because the inertia of the movingmasses resists the intermittent motion, but also as a result of the useof chains the members of which are subjected to irregular wear making itimpossible to stop at a precise position.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide an improvedpositioning mechanism for aligning sheets of paper, cardboard and thelike in exact registration for printing or cutting operations or thelike.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with the above provisionin equipment in which sheets are moved from a first position to asecond. In such equipment, the sheet transporting devices have aninertia which is difiicult to overcome and known registration devicesare required not only to halt these transporting devices but to reversethe direction of travel thereof for purposes of urging the same againstregistration devices.

Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide animproved mode of registration in which the need for reversing thedirection of travel of transporting devices is avoided.

To achieve the above and other objects, the invention contemplates theregistration of transporting devices by urging these devices in the samedirection in which they normally travel. By so providing, the inventionsubstantially reduces the wear on the equipment and further provides foraccomplishing the desired purpose more rapidly and more efficiently andwithout the destruction of the sheets to be processed.

The invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a basic sheet processing device as known from theprior art;

Figs. 2-4 illustrate a mechanism for imparting cyclical and intermittenttransporting forces to a sheet;

Fig. illustrates a modification of the structure of Figs. 24;

Fig. 6 shows a detail of a member provided in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 7 shows a partial front view Fig. 6;

Fig. 8'illustrates a registration abutment;

Fig. 9 illustrates a control detail; and

Fig. illustrates a further control detail.

United States Letters Patent 2,385,581, which discloses a mechanism apart of which is used in combination with the present invention, wasdirected to the controlled immobilization of bars in a precise positionat which sheets might be operated on. The provision of this patent,however, was insufiicient due to the absence of means of the structureof adapted to determine a precise positioning of each gripper bar whenholding a sheet in operating position.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing will serve to explain the foregoingconsiderations.

This figure shows, very diagrammatically, a press as viewed from theside and having a frame 1, a bottom platen 2 which is adapted to beraised and lowered by means of toggle joints 2, and chains 3 driving thegripper bars around the front and rear chain wheels 4 and 5respectively.

Each time a gripper bar reaches position A beneath wheel 4, it engages asheet and then, after the wheel has made one turn, the bar arrives atposition B and holds the sheet between the frame 1 and the platen 2 sothat it can be operated on. The sheets must be exactly registered inthese two positions.

A means of achieving this registration has already been proposed in oneof the embodiments of United States Letters Patent 2,512,084 wherein thebars are brought cyclically into a position slightly too far advancedand are moved rearwardly against correcting abutments, the sections ofchain between the two stations A and B slacking slightly as a result ofthe backward movement of the bar occupying the operation station(station B in Figure 1) The mechanism of Figures 2 to 4 has also beenpreviously proposed however for the purpose of communicating rapidrevolutions, limited to single turns, to the front chain wheels 4. Sincethis mechanism can be used in combination with the present invention, itwill next be described.

Figure 2 shows a wheel 4 rigidly connected to a shaft 6. This shaftpasses through the wall 7 of a press and carries a fluted cylinder 8with which it is rigidly connected and on which a sleeve 9 can axiallyreciprocate.

In the position of this sleeve as seen in Figure 2, dogs 10 of thelatter are in engagement with dogs 11 on a pinion 12 to which a toothedsector 13 imparts a rotary movement alternating in opposite directions(see the assembly view of Figure 4). Thus the pinion 12 drives the shaft6 and the direction of movement is made to correspond to that of themovement of the chains and it is arranged that the dimensions of thepinion 12, the sector 13, a crank 14 operating the same, and a lever 15to which this crank is attached are such that the wheels 4 make singleturns.

In the position illustrated in Figure 3, the sleeve 9,'

which is no longer in engagement with the pinion 12, has been axiallydisplaced such that the recesses in the periphery thereof on the frameside of the press are in engagement with fixed dogs 16 of the latter.This positively arrests the shaft 6 and the wheels 4 after each turn ofthe latter, that is to say at the instant at which the gripper barsoccupy the positions A and B of Figure 1.

The sleeve 9 is automatically displaced by a lateral cam 17 which isrigid with the lever 15 as is the fork 18. Patent No. 2,385,581 givesall of the required details of this construction.

The present invention, which is adapted, for example, to utilize theessential elements of the above arrangement, provides that when chainsare stopped, the positions of bars at the stations A and B are correctedby means which impart to the chains a supplementary advance which isadapted to apply the bars against abutments which are in accuratelypre-determined positions.

Thus, and in contrast to the procedure set forth in Patent No.2,512,084, the correction or registration is carried out in the normaldirection of travel of the bars,

and not in the opposite direction so that the bars do not have to stopand then move back before the operation takes place. This new methodavoids a movement which thin operating sheets cannot endure due toinherent weakness and the rapid operation of the machine.

Referring again to Figure 1, it can readily be under stood that if,behind the bars in position A and B; andjat a distance from these bars,abutments 19 and 26 are raised, it is only required to impart to thechains 3 a supplementary advance to bring the bars into contact withthese abutments so as to fix them exactly in a registered Ashas beenseen in the description of Figures 24,

the arrangement illustrated therein opposes any possible supplementaryadvance of the chains, since the fixed dogs 16 of the frame of themachine immobilize the sleeve 9 7 each time the chains are stopped.

.For this reason and in accordance with the invention,

the fixed dogs are replaced by the arrangement of Figure 5. Here thedogs 16 are disposed on a disc 21 which is coaxial with the shaft 6 andcan be turned by an arm,

22 around the latter. 7

If it is assumed that the direction of rotation is the same as for theadvancement of the chains, i. e. the advance is that of the arrow 23, acorresponding movement of the arm 22 will enable the chain wheels keyedon the'shaft 6 to be given a supplementary advance each time thesewheels tend to be stopped by engagement of the sleeve 9 with the dog 16.

This supplementary advance takes place as soon as the sleeve 9 hascompletely freed the dogs 10 from the dogs 11 on the pinion 12 whichthen turns idly. The said advancement will take place before the toolstouch the sheet and as soon as this latter is freed from the pressure ofthe tools, the return movement in the. opposite direction of the arrowtaking place so that the dogs 10 of the sleeve 9 are engageable with thedogs 11 of the driving pinion. The resulting backward movement of thissheet is of no consequence, this sheet having then already been operatedon.

The required displacements of the arm 22' are imparted thereto by anappropriate cam keyed on the main shaft In Figure 10, the cam rotatingabout the axis 24 actuates a pivoted set of levers to impart a drive tothe arm 22. The arm 22 moves transverse to the shaft 6 and thus rotatesthe disc 21.

Returning again to Figure 1, it is clear that if the application of thebar at position A against the abutment or abutments 19 can be causeddirectly by the wheels 4, the application at position B against theabutment orabutments 20 is eifected by the pull of the chain sectionsconnecting the point B to the wheels 4 above the wheels Sand otherguiding wheels (not shown).

To obtain a satisfactory application of the described method, it isnecessary to exert an adequate pull on the chains. This is achieved byhaving them etfect, by means of the mobile dogs 16, a displacement whichis slightly longer than the travel required to bring the bars againstthe abutment 20, the excess travel being taken up partly by the chainsand partly by a displacement of the wheel against the pull of springs 25urging the spindle of these wheels toward the rear.

An advantage of this supplementary advance of the bar which maintainsthe sheet in the operating position, in contrast to the devices in whichuse is made of a backward movement of a sheet before it has beenoperated 'on, resides particularly in the fact that an advance stretchesthe sheet whereas a return movement causes The cam 33 has a flattenedportion 34 which enables the arrow 26, is in itself of known type.

it to bow between the platens, particularly if it is of 7 thin material.

The action of the abutments 19 and 20 which fix the positions A and B ofthe bars will next be described.

The abutment 19, which is seen at the bottom righthand side of Figure 6positioning the bar. A which is conveyed by the chain wheel 4 driven inthe direction of It is successively raised and lowered so asrespectively to arrest the bars or allow them to pass. p

With the object, however, of obtaining a positive application of the baragainst this abutment and to'ex tend the sections of chain betweenpositions 19 and 20' (see Fig. l), the wheel 4 carries a special devicewhich is symmetrically duplicated on the accompanying wheel driving theother chain.

A finger 27, pivoted on pin 28 carried by the wheel and rigid with onearm of a'lever 29 is urged by a spring 30 supported on lug 31 in thesame direction as wheel on the wall 7 of the press, (see Figure 3). and,for

example, occupies the position designated by dotted lines the spring 30to expand slightly and to urge the finger 27 against the bar occupyingthe positionA or the station at which it engages aregistered sheet.

By this means, that is to say by reason of the pressure exerted by thefinger on the bar which has just been advanced against the abutment 19,all possible. play is prevented, the bar bearing positively against theabutment, or against the abutments since a similar arrangement isprovided at both ends of the bar. v

The partial view in Figure 7 showsthe bar A, the chain 3, the wheel 4,and the finger 27 applied forwardly against the bar from the rear withregard to the plane of the drawing.

The operation of the abutment 20 is disclosed in- Figures 8 and 9.

.A support 2' fixed to the movable platen 2 carriesthe; I

abutment control mechanism.

The abutment 20 oscillates about a shaft 35 on which is keyed a drivinglever 36. In addition Figure 8 shows thebar B and the chain 3. v

The abutment 20 is moved by the lever 36 through the agency of acompression spring, as will be described.

Articulated to this lever 36 is a small lever 37 which forms a togglewith the operating lever 38, the latter in turn rotating about a shaft39 and being actuated by a bar 40. Finally the latter is moved by a cam24 on shaft 24 (see Figure l) which thus centralizes all of the controlsof the mechanisms described including'those of the abutment 19. 1

Figures 1 and 8 illustrate the position of, the aforesaid members infull lines when the abutment 20 is adother and similar shaft for theother abutment, a single I control 37, 38 and 40 being'used.

Figure 8 shows, in part, the regulating meansand Figure 9 will enablethe operation thereof to be more clearly explained.

It is, in fact, desirable to be able to impose a;fi.ue regulation on theposition of the abutment 20, and therefrom of the bars in position B.

To this end, the support 2' carries a setscrew 41 which is adapted to beapplied against a lower extension 42 of the abutment and thus to limitthe degree of movement of the latter.

The setscrew 41 is rigid with the platen 2 through the support 2' andfollows the movement of this platen, as does the rest of the mechanismof Figures 8 and 9.

The lower arm 42 of the abutment 20, which is loosely mounted on theshaft 35, is applied against the setscrew 41 by means of a spring 43which, at its other end, bears against a lever 44 which is keyed to theshaft 35 and consequently is adapted to rotate with the lever 36.

A bolt 45 and a nut 46 limit the expansion of the spring 43 so as toprovide for the return movement of the abutment 20.

It will be apparent that the spring 43 must be sufiiciently powerful forthe arm 42 to remain applied against the setscrew 41 when a gripper baris applied against the abutment 20.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for sequentially positioning sheets in exactregistration with a reference line, said machine including gripper barsfor gripping the sheets, chains for moving the gripper bars via adeterminable path in a given direction, spaced drums for driving thechains, drive means for driving the drums, and coupling means forcyclically coupling at least one of said drums to said drive means inorder to move the gripper bars to the reference line sequentially incycles: the positioning mechanism comprising abutments cyclicallyintercepting the determinable path of the gripper bars at the referenceline and supplementary drive means coupled to said drive means forefiecting a cyclic supplementary drive to the chains in the givendirecton to urge the gripper bars against said abutments.

2. The positioning mechanism claimed in claim 1 comprising a cyclicallyoperative positioning device on said cyclically coupled drum forcontacting said gripper bars for further urging said gripper barsagainst said abutments.

3. The positioning mechanism claimed in claim 2 com- .6 prisingadjustment means for adjusting the positions of the abutments relativeto the reference line.

4-. The positioning mechanism claimed in claim 3 comprising spring meansfor spring loading one of said drums to provide compensation for thecyclic supplementary drive imparted to the chains.

5. The positioning mechanism claimed in claim 4; the coupling meanscomprising axles, cooperating members on said axles, dogs on saidmembers adapted for interengagement, one of the members being coupled tosaid drive means, the other of the members being axially displaceable onits axle to which is coupled one of said drums; said positioningmechanism comprising means for cyclically displacing said axiallydisplaceable member for decoupling said drum from said drive means,engaging means for engaging said displaced member, and supplementarydrive means coupling said engaging and supplementary drive means forimparting a supplementary drive to said drum and chains in the givendirection.

6. The positioning mechanism claimed in claim 5 wherein said engagingmeans comprises a disc coaxial with said displaceable member and dogs onsaid disc adapted to engage said displaceable member; and saidsupplementary drive means comprises a cam driven by said drive means anda series of links cyclically urged into motion by said cam and coupledto said disc for imparting a small rotary motion thereto.

7. The positioning mechanism claimed in claim 6 wherein said cyclicallyoperative positioning device comprises a spring loaded finger mounted onthe driven drum and a cam normally maintaining said finger retractedfrom the periphery of the drum for avoiding contact with the gripperbars, said cam having a configuration which permits said finger to bespring urged against a gripper bar positioned substantially at thereference line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,385,581 Kury Sept. 25, 1945 2,512,084 Bobst June 20, 1950 2,572,691Bobst Oct. 23, 1951

